Love of Country and Family

When Sullivan was born and we announced his name my dad instantly said, 'Oh! Sullivan Ballou!'

Jordan and I looked at each other and said, 'Huh?!'

My dad explained that Sullivan Ballou was a Major in the Civil War for the North and that he had written a letter to his wife before a battle that had become famous. After we read the letter Jordan and I loved Sullivan's name just that much more.

We are coming upon the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War so there are starting to be lots of specials on television including Ken Burns' series. This weekend we happened to be watching and this series was on and we were excited that we started watching right when they began talking about Sullivan Ballou.

Read his letter to his wife, Sarah. Try not to cry when you hear his love for his country and his wife and boys through his words. These are qualities I desire for my won Sullivan. Their writing in that time was so poetic and beautiful...when did we lose that?

Read here and remember those who have given their lives for the country we call home.

July 14, 1861

Camp Clark, Washington DC

Dear Sarah: The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!...

But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run.